Written by

G. Chambers Williams III

The Tennessean

Consumers might get a bit confused while shopping for the Nissan Rogue next year.

Although the completely redesigned, second-generation 2014 Rogue — produced in the Smyrna plant — will start rolling into showrooms in November, dealers will continue to offer the previous model as well, which is still made in Japan. Booming sales persuaded the automaker to keep the original Rogue in its lineup, at least for 2014.

But the carryover model will have a significantly lower price than the new model, and a slightly different name: the Rogue Select. It will officially go on sale as a 2014 model in January, said Franklin-based Nissan North America.

The company said the first-generation, five-passenger Rogue has been selling so well that it hates to see it go. So for now, it’s not going anywhere. The base price will drop to less than $20,000 from its current $20,310. The new second generation, called simply the Rogue, is roomier, with space for up to seven passengers, and starts at $22,490 ($1,190 more with seven-passenger seating).

“As the compact SUV segment is becoming very specialized, there is an opening for a low-cost, high-content offering, which is a gap that Rogue Select will fill,” said Fred Diaz, Nissan’s U.S. divisional vice president for sales and marketing.

“Rogue Select will allow Nissan to continue its strong performance in the segment, which will only get stronger once the all-new, U.S.-built 2014 Rogue goes on sale.”

Nissan sold 142,439 of the Rogue during 2012, and so far this year, through August, sales have totaled 113,316, up 16 percent from last year. It’s the company’s second-best-selling vehicle in the United States, behind the midsize Altima sedan.